Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State associate vice president and physics professor is being recognized as a top business woman by a state business publication.
Sandra H. Harpole of West Point is part of the 2007 class of the Mississippi Business Journal's "Mississippi's 50 Leading Business Women." She is among the latest group selected by the Jackson-based publication for its annual recognition of professional women making significant contributions to society and the workplace.
Harpole and other award honorees will gather in Jackson Aug. 15 and 16 for a series of networking dinners. They also will interview for the "Business Woman of the Year" award to be announced in January.
In addition to serving as associate research vice president, Harpole directs the university's Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology. Her honors at the 129-year-old land-grant university include the John Grisham Master Teacher and Faculty Achievement awards, as well as the Outstanding Faculty Woman and Distinguished Service Citation from the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Before Harpole joined MSU's faculty in 1987, she taught chemistry and physics at West Point High School, where she was honored with the national Presidential Award for excellence in science teaching.
At MSU, she has secured numerous state and national research grants for teacher enhancement and training in science, mathematics and technology. She also has been recognized as one of Mississippi's most highly funded researchers.
Harpole currently directs grants valued at more than $10 million and serves as co-principal investigator on two additional National Science Foundation grants totaling about $900,000.
Kirk Schulz, MSU's vice president for research and economic development, said Harpole's research has had a meaningful impact on many students seeking a higher education.
"She has served as a role model for many of our faculty women at Mississippi State and has brought national visibility to the university and state with her work with math and science education," Schulz said.
Harpole's professional and academic memberships include Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Golden Key honor societies, as well as the American Association of Physics Teachers.
She also is a member of the United States Golf Association Women's Mid-Amateur Committee and served as the general chair of the USGA 2006 Women's Mid-Amateur Championship conducted at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point in 2006.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Harpole at sharpole@research.msstate.edu or 662-325-3570.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.